Signaling apparatus



June 12, 1956 w. R. PATTON ETAL 2,749,876

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed May 27, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l WILL/AM R. PATTON ii" I imlim'ggf 33 CHARLES E. M/NN/CK 35 1| L 7 6 mus/wom- 55 1 HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

\3 WORREL a HERZ/G June 12, 1956 w. R. PATTON ET AL SIGNALING APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1954 WILL/AM R BATTON CHARLES E. M/NN/CK INI/ENTORS HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTO/WEVY fQ/%M United States Patent 2,749,876 SIGN ALWG APPARATUS William R. Patton and Charles E. Minnick, Fresno, Califl, assignors of one-half to James M. Patton, Fresno, Calif.

Application May 27, 1954, Serial No. 432,632

7 Claims. (Cl. 116-63)- The present invention relates to a signaling apparatus and more particularly to warning signals adapted upon actuation to extend into view and/or to be withdrawn from view.

The signaling apparatus of this invention is especially adapted for use on pedestrian cross walks at or near school buildings and the like and was originally conceived with such a use in mind. In this regard, it is presently a common practice to permit school children to act as guides or trafiic directors at school crossings. Certain children are selected to perform this duty and are assigned certain posts near designated cross walks. The child is expected to stand at the side of the street adjacent to the cross walk, to signal approaching cars to slow down or stop and to indicate to the children when it is safe to cross the street. Because of the age of these children and also because of the tendency for children to step further into the street in an attempt more effectively to discharge their duties, perhaps even attempting tostop approaching cars by standing in the middle of the street, thi practice has resulted in danger to the children and substantial objection from the parents of the children involved. Yet the task performed by these child traffic guides, referred to as junior traffic patrolmen, has been of great value in minimizing injury to child pedestrians.

Assuming that a child were to remain on the side walk when directing traflic or guiding children across the street, it is quite difficult if not impossible effectively to stop oncoming traffic during the busy morning, noon or evening hours when traflic is heavy and particularly when such hours coincide with the recess periods of the school. Further, there is a natural tendency on the part of a few adult motorists to pay little heed to an attempted exercise of authority on the part of the child when trying to carry out his assigned duty.

Therefore, it is quite clear that there is a need for an eifective signaling apparatus easily and safely operated by a child and which effectively performs the function of warning or stopping traflic which approaches cross walks or intersections.

Although the present invention is highly adaptable to use in connection with cross walks, insofar as its signaling effectiveness and the measure of safety offered is concerned, it will be readily understood as the description proceeds, that the invention is not limited to such precise use but may be employed in innumerable situations having similar signaling needs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a signaling apparatus adapted operably to move an indicating member or sign between an extended position wherein it is visible to an intended viewer and a retracted position no longer visible to such a viewer.

It is another object to provide such an apparatus adapted to oscillate in the manner of a pendulum when in an extended position in order more effectively to attract the attention of an intended viewer.

Another object is to provide a signaling apparatus 2,749,876 Patented June 12, 1956 adapted to control traflic at cross walks or other similar street intersections.

Another object is to provide a trafiic signaling apparatus adapted to be mounted on a sidewalk wherein it can be operated in a safe manner at a position removed from the hazards of traffic and which is highly effective as a signaling and warning apparatus.

Another object is to provide such a signaling apparatus capable of ready manual operation by children.

Another object is to provide asignaling apparatus which is simple and yet durable in construction, reliable in operation, and highly effective for the intended use.

These and other objects will become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the signaling apparatus of the present invention with a sign thereof in an extended position.

on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary somewhat enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the sign in a retracted position.

Fig. 6 is a somewhat enlarged section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on a plane indicated by lines 7-7 of Fig. 2 and showing the moveable parts of the invention in one limit of their operation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 7 but showing the position of the working parts of the device in another limit of their operation.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section viewed from the opposite side of that shown in Fig. 8 and showing the working parts in an intermediate position of operation.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary, partial section of the hydraulic dampening mechanism of the present invention utilized in the signaling apparatus.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged.longitudinal section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a further enlarged section showing the construction of a piston head of the hydraulic dampening mechanism of Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the control box utilized for manually operating the signaling apparatus.

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a section taken on a plane indicated by line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Referring more particularly to the drawings:

The signaling apparatus of this invention, as seen in Fig. 1, includes a hollow support post 20 mounted in a substantially vertical position in a sidewalk or other suitable mounting, indicated by the numeral 21. Alternatively, a base member, not shown, could be provided for supporting the post. Further, the signaling apparatus includes a housing 22 mounted on the post, a sign 23 and a control box 24 providing means manually operable to position the sign either in a sign displaying position, as shown in Fig. l, or in a sign retracted position interiorly of the housing 22, shown in Fig. 7.

The housing 22 has a front plate 30 and a rear plate 31, which are congruent and conveniently both of a substantially octagonal shape and are mounted in spaced parallel relation. Each of the plates is provided with a pair of relatively longer edges, as 32, which are disposed in substantially vertical positions. The housing further includes a peripheral wall 33 connected to and extending Fig. 2 is a fragmentary somewhat enlarged section taken around and between the edges of the front and rear plates. The portion of the peripheral wall disposed between the coincident or corresponding edges 32 at one side of the housing defines a side wall 34 of the housing. This wall is provided with a slot 35 which is disposed in a substantially vertical position and which extends substantially the entire length of the side wall 34. A further portion of the peripheral wall defines a base wall 36 of the housing through which the support post 20 is extended and attached in a manner to be described subsequently. Although the above mentioned construction of the housing has been found conveniently for successful operation of this invention, it is to be understood, that the specific shape and construction of the housing is not intended as limiting the scope of the in vention.

A bracket 40 is mounted within the housing and includes a pair of U-shaped channel members 4141 and an elongated plate 42 connected to the channel members for maintaining them in their proper spaced relation and for adding rigidity thereto. The channel members 4-1-41 and plate 42 are bolted to post 21 by bolts 44. The housing plate 31 is fastened to the channels by bolts, as shown at 43. The support post 28, as above noted, extends through the base wall 36 upwardly into the housing between the U-shaped channel members 41 of the bracket 40 and serves to support the bracket.

The bracket 48 also includes a pair of spaced mounting plates 5050 which are interconnected and held in spaced relation by a U-shaped channel portion 51 and are attached to the U-shaped channels 41-41 at the upper extremity thereof. The mounting plates are somewhat trapezoidal in shape having corresponding portions thereof extended toward the side wall 34 of the housing.

A sign arm 55, having the shape of a flanged channel member, for imparting rigidity thereto, is utilized for mounting the sign 23 at one end thereof. A counterbalance 56 comprising a substantially semi-cylindrical weighted member is mounted at the opposite end of the sign arm 55. The sign arm is mounted on a substantially horizontal pivotal axis intermediate the counterbalance and the sign, preferably closely adjacent to the counterbalance, as shown. For this purpose a pin 57 extends through a suitable opening in the sign arm and is journalled at opposite ends in the plates 505tl, as best seen in Figs. 4-6. To improve the pivotal action of the sign arm, ball bearings may be utilized at 58 to minimize frictional resistance to arm movement. The counterbalance has a boss 59 extended from the flat surface thereof providing a bore 60 aligned with the pivot opening in the sign arm and through which the pin 57 is received as best shown in Fig. 7. A guide channel member 61 is mounted on the arm between the pivot axis thereof and the sign 23, the purpose of which is subsequently to be described.

The counterbalance 56 being of substantially semicylindrical shape has an axis of symmetry indicated by line 62 and a center of gravity which is indicated by 63 at the geometrical center of the weight and lying along the axis of symmetry. The sign arm is connected to the counterbalance along a radial line which is displaced from the axis of symmetry, as best seen in Fig. 7. The attachment of the sign arm to the counterbalance in this manner retains the center of gravity 63 of the counterbalance inwardly from the adjacent side of the housing 22 from the pin 57 when the sign arm is in its retracted position thus urging the sign into extended position. It will therefore be apparent that if the sign arm is permitted to pivot freely about its axis, the counterbalance will urge the arm toward an extended position outwardly of the housing. It is also to be noted that the counterbalance adds momentum to the sign arm as it moves from a retracted position to an extended position and therefor imparts an oscillatory motion to the sign arm when in a substantially horizontal position. The efiect is that of a pendulum and since the weight of the counterbalance, the sign and the arm is such as to permit a balance of the arm in a horizontal position, the oscillations will gradually diminish and the arm will eventually come to rest in a horizontal position. In actual practice, however, its initial movement to horizontal position results in a vigorous oscillation which attracts attention.

The foregoing presumes the arm 55 to be in a freely pivoting condition. However, it is intended by the present invention selectively to control the position of the sign arm between retracted and extended positions. Accordingly, as seen in Fig. 10, the mounting plates 5@50 are provided with a pair of bearings 70 formed inwardly in the plates. An upper shaft 71 is rotatably mounted in the bearings 70 having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation horizontally displaced from the pivot axis of the sign arm 55. A first roller or restraining arm or lever 72 is rigidly secured at one of its ends to the shaft 71 and is provided with a roller 73 at the opposite end thereof. The roller arm is reciprocally pivotal between a position with the roller in engagement with the guide channel 61 when the sign arm 55 is in a horizontal position or any position angularly displaced downwardly from a horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and an upper position disengaged from the channel even when the sign arm is angularly displaced upwardly from a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 8. The arm 72 and roller 73 constitute restraining means for the sign arm and are so referred to herein.

The mounting plates 50 are provided wth lower bearings 79 formed in the same manner as bearings 78, as seen in Fig. 10. A shaft 80 is rotatably journaled in the lower bearings having one end thereof extended toward rear plate 31 of the housing. A sleeve 81 extended through and rigidly connected to plate 31 is provided for rotatably receiving the extended end of shaft 88. The shaft 80 has an axis of rotation which is vertically displaced from both the pivot axis of the sign arm 55 and the axis of rotation of the roller arm 72. A second lever or spring arm 82 is rigidly connected at one end thereof to the shaft 88 and extends outwardly of the housing in a direction laterally opposite to that of the roller arm 72, that is, away from side wall 34. A spring 83 is connected between the roller end of the roller arm 72 and the extended, or free, end of the spring arm 82. The spring arm is reciprocally pivotal between a substantially horizontal lower position, shown in Figs. 7 and 9, urging the spring 83 to lie along anaxis beneath the pivotal axis of the roller arm 72, that is, the axis of rotation of shaft 71, and an upper position shown in Fig. 8 urging the spring to lie along an axis above the axis of the roller arm. Upper and lower stop elements 84 and 85 are provided on the mounting plate 50 adjacent to spring arm 82 to limit the pivotal movement of the spring arm in each of the described positions. The spring 83 is thus an over-center spring with respect to the arm 72 and serves selectively to urge the arm into its described opposite positions in response to pivotal movement of the arm 82 between its described opposite positions. A further spring 86 is connected at one end to the extended end of the spring arm 82 and is connected at the opposite end to one of the U-shaped channel members 41, thus acting continuously to urge the spring arm 82 into its lower position against the stop element 85 as best seen in Fig. 9.

A manual control is provided selectively to position the spring arm 82. Thus, a crank is rigidly connected at one of its ends to the lower shaft 81. A control rod 96 is mounted within the hollow support post 20 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to the free end of the crank 95. The control box 24, previously noted as being mounted on the support post 20, is provided with a rotatable stub shaft 97 rigidly mounting at the inner end; thereof a crank 98. The lower end of the controlrod 96 extends downwardly in the support post and is pivotallyconnected to the extended end of the crank 98. The stub shaft 97 extends outwardly of the control box and a manual control handle 99 is rigidly connected thereto in order to impart rotation to the shaft 97. The control handle is rotatable through substantially 180 and is limited in its rotation by a pair of stop elements 100- and' 101.

The control box 24 is provided with a hinged cover 105 which may be locked in a closed position by means of a lock71ii6 or the like. The crank 99 contained in the control box is thus inaccessible until the box is opened. In this. manner unauthorized operation of the device is avoided.

In order to control the speed at which the sign arm 55 moves into its extended or retracted positions, a dampening mechanism of a suitable type illustrated at 169 in Figs. 7 and 10, is incorporated into the present invention. A block 110 mounted on sleeve 81 is utilized for mounting this mechanism in bracket 40. This mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder 111, a piston 1.12 mounted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder and a piston rod 113 connected to the piston and extended outwardly of the cylinder. An enclosure cap 114 provided with a central bore 115 is threadably attached to the cylinder 111 with the piston rod 113 slidably received in the bore 115. The cylinder 111 is filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid, indicated at 116. A crank 117 is rigidly attached at one end to the upper shaft 71 and is pivotally connected at the opposite end to the piston rod 113. It should be noted at this point that the reciprocal movement of the roller arm "i2 is limited by the stroke of piston 112. Thus, the piston is provided with a main portion 125 in slidable engagement with the inner wall of the cylinder 111. A diametrically reduced portion immediately above the main portion 125 provides a lower "valve seat 126 adapted to receive an O-ring therein. A further diametrically reduced portion immediately above the valve seat defines an annular recess 127. A substantially cylindrical disk-shaped portion 128 is provided .in overlying relation to the annular recess 127 having its outer periphery spaced from the inner wall of the cylinder 111'. The space between disk 12%: and the inner wall of the housing provides a fluid passage 12s. An annular groove defining an upper O-ring or valve seat 131 is provided on the underside of the disk-shaped portion 123' facing the lower seat 126. An O-ring 131 of neoprene or other suitable material is releasably seated in the lower seat 126. The upperside 132 of disk 128 constitutes the retraction face of the piston.

The forward or compression face 135 of the piston 112 is provided with a cup portion 136 extended therefrom. A fluid communicating passage 137 having an axis disposed parallel to the piston rod 113 extends entirely through the piston and permits the passage of fluid con.- ifined by the cup portion during the compression stroke of the piston upwardly toward the retraction face of the piston andvice versa. A further fluid communicating passage 133 extends from the cup portion of the piston to the annular recess 12'7".

During the upper or retraction stroke of the piston, fluid is permitted to flow toward the cup portion 136 of the piston through the passage 137 and through the unblocked passage 138, the O-ring 131 remaining seated in the lower -ring seat 126. However, on the compression stroke, the O-ring slides upwardly into seating engagement in the upper O-ring valve seat 130 thereby blocking the passage of fluid through the annular fluid passage 129. Thus, on the compression stroke, fluid is permitted to pass toward the retraction face of the pistonv only through the passage 137, the passage 138 being effectively blockedto fluid flow. by the seatihgof. the O-ring,

inthe upper O-ring valve seat. The purpose of this. valve action; is to effect less resistance to the piston on the retractionstroke than on the compression stroke.

Operation The operation of this invention is believed to be readily apparent and is summarized at this point. The apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 may be mounted with the supportpost 2i) permanently fixed or installed in a supporting surface 21, such as a sidewalk or other pavement. As above noted, however, the apparatus may be made portable by providing a moveable base, not shown, attached at the base of the support post 20. Assuming the use ofthe apparatus on a cross walk, one of the'devices is preferabl'y situated in the curb at each end' of the cross walk and orientated in such a manner that the sign element faces in a direction visible to oncoming traffic onthe particular side of the street on which the deviceis mounted. Ordinarily, when not in use, the sign- 23 is in a retracted position internally of the housing 22 sothat it is not visible to oncoming traffic.

When it is desired to permit a group of pedestrians to cross the street, and thus it is desired to stop vehicular traffic, as a safety precaution, the handle 99 is given a complete turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 13, until it abuts the stop element 101.

The control rod 9-5 thereby is lifted or moved upwardly rotating the lower shaft 81. The spring arm 82 moves from its lower position into its upper position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, as a result of the rotation of the shaft 36. Normally, when the spring arm is in its lower position and the sign is retracted within the housing, the spring 83 exerts a force through the roller against the spring arm 55 which is substantially perpendicular to thesign arm. Moving the spring arm to its upper position carries the spring 8? therewith and thus changes the-axial line along which the force is exerted by the spring on arm 55. With the force tending to hold the sign arm into the housing thus relieved, the sign arm is permitted to pivot by reason of counterbalance 56 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 7, outwardly of the housing toward its extended position. It should be noted" at this point, that the counterbalance 56 and the spring 83 are designed in such a manner that when the spring is,

held in a substantially perpendicular position relative to the sign arm by the spring arm, the force exerted thereby overcomes the moment of force acting on the sign arm by the counterbalance tending to pivot thesign arm in a counterclockwise direction. However, when the force exerted by the spring is reduced by reason of its movement into an upper position, the counterbalance 56 overcomes the force of the spring tending to hold the sign arm in a retracted position and counterclockwise-rotation of the sign arm is initiated.

Therefore, with the spring arm 82 in its upper position, the sign arm 55 pivots outwardly of the housing toward its extended position carrying the roller arm 72 therewith. When the sign arm pivots into a position angularly displaced upwardly from a horizontal position, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 8. that the roller arm carries the spring 83 above the axis of upper shaft 71'. When this occurs, the force exerted by the spring 83 tends to urge the roller arm upwardly in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 8; The roller arm is thus disengaged from the channel 61 and the sign arm 55 is free to pivot around its axis.

Because of the momentum given to the upward pivoting movement of the sign arm 55 by the counterbalance 56. and because the roller arm 72 is disengaged from the sign arm, the latter will oscillate about a horizontal position for a period of time following its release in.

7 eventually the'arm will come to rest in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 8. However, the momentary period of oscillation increases the signal ng efficiency of the device and obviously aids in attracting the attention of motorists.

After the pedestrians have safely crossed the street, the operator of the signaling apparatus need only throw the handle 99 in a counterclockwise direction until it hits the stop 100. This lowers the control rod 96 rotating the lower shaft 81 thereby moving the spring arm 72 from its upper position into its lower position. This latter movement of the spring arm carries the axis of the spring 83 below the axis of upper shaft 71. The force now being applied to the roller arm 72 is in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7 or 8, and thus the roller is brought into engagement with the channel 61 of the sign arm. The force exerted by spring 83 on sign arm 55 in a clockwise direction is sufiicient to overcome the force exerted on the sign arm by the counterbalance tending to hold the sign arm in a horizontal position and thus the sign arm is urged to move into its retracted position. As the sign arm descends, the effective force of the counterbalance on the sign arm will increase but also the effectiveness of the spring is increased due to the travel of the roller 73 acting on the guide channel 61 and the sign arm is brought into its retracted position.

In order to prevent the sign arm from moving too rapidly toward a retracted position and thereby banging or hitting against the inner walls of the housing, the hydraulic speed dampening mechanism has been included. Although this is an integral part of the invention, although not an essential thereof, its operation is explained separately for purposes of descriptive clarity. Thus, assuming the sign arm is released for movement into its horizontal position as above described, the piston 112 moves upwardly in the cylinder 111, as seen in Figs. 11 and 12. During such movement, the O-ring 131 remains seated in the lower seat 126 and thus fiuid is permitted to pass through the passage 137 and through the annular passage 129 into the annular recess 127 and through the passage 138. There is thus very little restriction imposed on the movement of the sign arm into its horizontal, or extended, position as a result of the hydraulic dampening mechanism. This is of course, the intended result inasmuch as it is desired to permit the sign arm to oscillate about its horizontal position due to the additional momentum given thereto by the counterbalance. However, the roller arm 72 is limited in its movement in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 8, by the abutment of the piston 112 against the cap 114.

When the sign arm is retracted in the manner above described, the piston 112 moves downwardly in the cylinder. Such movement urges the O-ring 131 into seating engagement with the upper valve seat 136. Although fluid is permitted to pass through the passage 137, fluid passage is blocked through the passage 137 as a result of the closing of the annular fluid passage 129 by the O-ring, as Will be clearly understood from Fig. 12. The movement of the piston downwardly in the cylinder is therefore impeded and since the roller arm is connected to the piston rod 113, its downward or clockwise pivoting movement is likewise restricted or impeded. This acts to brake or dampen the speed at which the sign arm moves into a retracted position and thus permits the undesirable hitting of the sign against the walls of the housing. By properly designing the length of the cylinder 111, the lower limit of pivotal movement of the roller arm may be predetermined so that the sign will ease into the housing and rest therein without touching the interior of the housing.

It is seen from the foregoing that a highly effective signaling apparatus has been provided which may be conveniently and simply operated even by children. Furthermore, children may operate such signaling apparatus at a safe position adjacent to and off of the street. a sign arm has been provided for movement into an extended visible position and which further is adapted to oscillate in its position, the apparatus is quite effective in attracting the attention of oncoming trafiic even from a position off but adjacent to the street. Any desired indicia may be provided on the sign 23 and the sign may be made to fluoresce or luminesce as a result of lights impinging thereon or may be illuminated, as desired. Suitable indicia can also be provided on housing 22.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in What is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A signaling apparatus comprising a moveable signaling arm; a sign borne by the arm; means mounting the arm for pivotal movement between an operable sign displaying position and a retracted position, a counterbalance mounted on the arm; the counterbalance, arm, and sign having a combined center of balance displaced from the axis of pivotal movement of the arm tending to return the arm to sign displaying position when displaced therefrom; arm restraining means mounted for movement between a position in controlling association with the arm adapted to retain the arm in retracted position and a position displaced from the arm freeing the arm for return to sign displaying position and pendulous oscillation therein; resilient means connected to the restraining means resistively retaining said means alternately in its said controlling and displaced positions; and control means connected to the resilient means operable through said resilient means selectively to move the restraining means to and from its said positions.

2. A traffic signaling apparatus comprising a support, a housing mounted on the support having a side Wall providing a substantially vertical elongated slot, a bracket supported in the housing, an arm having a sign attached to one end thereof and a semi-cylindrical weighted member attached to the other end thereof, the arm being pivotally mounted on the bracket on a substantially horizontal axis intermediate the sign and the weighted member in alignment with the slot for pivotal movement between a substantially vertical sign retracted position within the housing and a substantially horizontal sign extended position outwardly of the housing, the weighted member having an axis of symmetry, and a center of gravity lying along the axis of symmetry, the arm being attached to the weighted member along a radial line displaced from said axis of symmetry with the center of gravity of the weighted member disposed on the side of the arm opposite from the side wall when the arm is in a retracted position whereby the arm is urged to pivot into its extended position and an oscillating motion is imparted to the arm when allowed to freely pivot in such extended position, the arm having a roller guide channel intermediate the pivotal connection to the bracket and the sign, an upper shaft having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the arm and being rotatably mounted in the bracket, a roller arm rigidly connected at one end to the shaft having a roller connected at the other end thereof and being pivotal between a lower position with the roller in engagement in the guide channel of the arm and an upper position with the roller disengaged from the channel, a spring connected at one end to the roller arm adjacent to the roller, a lower shaft rotatably mounted in the bracket on a substantially horizontal axis substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the arm, a spring arm rigidly connected at one end to the lower shaft and extended Since outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to that of the arm, the spring being connected at its other end to the extended end of the spring arm, the spring arm being pivotal between a lower position wherein the axis of the spring is below the axis of the upper shaft thereby urging the roller into engagement with the guide channel and an upper position wherein the axis of the spring at least intersects the axis of the upper shaft thereby enabling disengagement of the roller from the channel upon upward oscillating movement of the sign arm in its extended position, an hydraulic speed dampening means for controlling the speed at which the roller arm moves between its upper and lower positions comprising a cylinder mounted in the bracket and containing a hydraulic fluid, a piston reciprocal in the cylinder having a compression face and a retraction face, a piston rod connected to the piston and outwardly extended therefrom, a crank being rigidly connected at one end to the upper shaft and pivotally connected at the other end to the piston rod, the pivotal movement of the roller arm being limited by the stroke of the piston, the piston having a pair of reduced diametric portions thereon defining respectively a valve seat and an annular recess, the annular recess having a diameter less than the valve seat, a first fluid passage extended through the piston providing a fluid communication between said face portions, a second fluid passage in the piston providing fluid communication between the compression face and the annular recess, a third fluid passage providing fluid communication between the retraction face and the annular recess, and a valve member releasably mounted in the valve seat and moveable on the compression stroke of the piston into closing engagement with the third fluid passage, a control rod mounted on the support and extended into the housing, a crank rigidly connected at one end to the lower shaft and pivotally connected at the other end to the control rod, a manual control handle mounted on the support and operatively connected to lower and elevate the control rod to move the spring arm to its lower and upper positions.

3. A signaling apparatus comprising a moveable signaling arm; a sign borne by the arm; means mounting the arm for pivotal movement in a predetermined plane between an operable sign displaying position and a retracted position; a counterbalance mounted on the arm, the counterbalance, arm, and sign having a combined center of balance displaced from the axis of pivotal movement of the arm tending to return the arm to sign displaying position when displaced therefrom; arm restraining means pivotally mounted for movement substantially in the plane of the arm alternately between a position in controlling association with the arm adapted to draw the arm into retracted position and a position displaced from the arm freeing the arm for return to sign displaying position; an over-center tension spring having an end connected to the restraining means eccentrically of its pivot axis and an opposite end extended from said connection generally toward and beyond said pivot axis; and manually controlled means connected to said opposite end of the over-center spring movable selectively to position the spring alternately on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the restraining means to move the restraining means into its alternate positions.

4. A signaling apparatus comprising a moveable sig naling arm; a sign borne by the arm; means mounting the arm for pivotal movement in a predetermined plane between an operable sign displaying position 'and a retracted position; a counterbalance mounted on the arm, the counterbalance, arm, and sign having a combined center of balance displaced from the axis of pivotal movement of the arm tending to return the arm to sign displaying position when displaced therefrom; arm restraining means pivotally mounted for movement substantially in the plane of the sign arm alternately between a position with an extended end thereof in engagement with the sign arm pressing the sign arm into its retracted position and position displaced from the sign arm freeing the sign arm for return to sign displaying position and pendulous oscillation therein; a spring arm pivotally mounted for movement substantially in the plane of the sign arm between a first position with an extended end thereof disposed opposite to the pivotal axis of the restraining means from the sign arm and a second position with the extended end disposed on the same side of the pivotal axis of the restraining means as the sign arm; a tension spring interconnecting the extended ends of the restraining means and the spring arm; and operator control means connected to the spring arm for selectively positioning said arm in its positions.

5. A signaling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which a dampening device is connected to the restraining means and cushions movement of the restraining means into its sign arm engaging position.

6. A signaling device comprising an elongated support member, an arm having opposite ends pivotally mounted on the support member at a position intermediate its ends but adjacent to one end thereof and movable between a first position with an extended end substantially aligned with the support member and a second position with the extended end substantially right angularly related to the support member, a sign mounted on the extended end of the arm, means connected to the end of the arm adjacent to the pivotal mounting thereof and urging the arm into said right angular position, restraining means pivotally mounted on the support at a position opposite to the pivotal mounting of the sign arm from the sign when the arm is in said right angular position and extended therefrom over the sign arm and providing an extended end engageable with the sign arm and retractable upwardly therefrom, a spring arm pivotally mounted on the support member beneath the restraining means and extended from the support member oppositely from the sign arm, a tension spring interconnecting the extended ends of the restraining means and the spring arm, the restraining means and the spring arm being so positioned that by upward pivotal movement thereof the spring is positioned above the pivotal axis of the restraining means and by downward pivotal movement thereof is positioned below said pivotal axis, and operating means having controlling connection to the spring arm.

7. A signaling device as set forth in claim 6 having a housing containing the restraining means, spring arm, and spring and containing the sign and sign arm when the arm is in substantial alignment with the support memher, said housing having a laterally disposed slot therein through which the sign is extended when the sign arm is in said right angular position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,510,500 Rolph Oct. 7, 1924 

